The blue line competiton, debating the best spot for Marleau, a good night for the penalty kill — and more

Print edition duties out of the way — and that story looks at the fact the Sharks have the NHL’s best record over the past 10 games at 8-1-1 — there’s still time and energy for a mop-up posting before calling it a night.

*****Todd McLellan has been generous with his praise of Justin Braun’s play as of late and today he pointed to Braun’s ability to earn a regular spot in the lineup as exactly the kind of internal competition the Sharks want to foster.

“It’s something we wanted,” McLellan said of Braun essentially taking away Jason Demers’ spot after starting the year in Worcester. “Just like Logan did last year, we wanted somebody to come in and take jobs and steal time away and put pressure. That push from the bottom up, is so valuable. It keeps everybody honest.”

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McLellan didn’t cite Demers by name, even when I asked if he worried about the impact on the player losing out in this kind of situation.

“Those guys (Demers and, perhaps, Jim Vandermeer) are very good players and they will be very good players for us and they’re important,” McLellan said. “But until we have a bump on the road and until it falters, we like what we’re doing on the back end.

“That’s why,” the coach continued, “it’s important when you do get the opportunity, you seize it and take advantage of it. You can’t let your game slip because somebody else is waiting. We haven’t always had that luxury (on the back end).”

Braun, by the way, has had season-high ice time of 19:23 and 19:25 the past two games, well above his eight-game average of 17:05.

The 24-year-old defenseman said the big difference between this year and last is is comfort level, “just knowing what to expect every night, not kind of wondering what other teams are going to bring, just learning how to play my game.”

And, no, it doesn’t matter who he’s paired with.

“Everyone’s comfortable playing with everyone,” he said. “It’s a good fit so far.”

*****It was a somewhat loaded question and McLellan didn’t answer directly when asked if he thought Patrick Marleau was better at center (where he’s been the last two gams) than on the wing (where he started the season alongside Joe Thornton).

“Patty’s just a hell of a good player,” McLellan said. “I think he can adapt anywhere. Patty in the middle, when you give him a specific assignment, whether it’s to play against Kopitar or to play against Koivu, he gets pretty focused and it’s a heckuva challenge for him.

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“Most dominant lines in the league,” McLellan continued, “are built through the centerman out and he knows that, so when he’s in the center and he’s lining up against somebody, he recognizes the challenge and he rises to that defensive occasion.

“But he’s still a hell of a winger and he scored 44 goals from the wing. Again, I feel comfortable — and he does — just being ready to roll out.”

McLellan pointed out he did use Marleau on wing with Thornton and Pavelski for a few shifts against the Wild.

“It’s universal, back and forth,” the coach said.

*****San Jose’s penalty kill was a perfect 3-for-3 against the Wild in the first game since McLellan used extended practice time to tweak the system.

That elevated the Sharks from 29th to 26th in the NHL with an even 74 percent success rate, but Michal Handzus certainly wasn’t ready to declare the problem solved.

“It’s a bulding block,” he said. “We changed something and it worked last night. But you’ve got to build on it. You don’t do it for one game. I think when we get more familiar, we will get better

He described the change as “just different up-ice pressure. Everything in the zone is pretty much the same, but we changed it a little bit in the neutral zone. . . . trying to force them to one side or the other. The way we played before is similar, but now it’s a little simpler.”

*****Finally, Torrey Mitchell credited Handzus with designing the faceoff play that led to Mitchell’s first goal of the season against the Wild on a one-timer.

How did Handzus scope it out?

“It was a right-handed faceoff man (Kyle Brodziak) against me and he was going on a backhand to throw it to the net,” Handzus said. “I have a better chance to win the draw inside, so once in a while I try to do that and it worked pretty good.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

…and Dallas loses to the Pens That makes it a very good night in the NHL, as far as I’m concerned.

Have a good night Mr. Pollak.

That goes for the rest of the WTC ruffians too.

Shark Fin

I like the swap of Heatley for Havlat. Heatley did not have speed, was not a great penalty killer, took the occassional bad penalty and had the have the offense go through him in order to really get going. He also had a humongous cap hit for the production he was giving. I’m glad we were able to dump the salary and get some speed and production in return.

Still, had I been at the Tank last night I would have clapped for him and not booed. He seemed like a good teammate, never complained publicly, honestly looked like he was trying to play defense at the end of the year and be a good steward of the system, and gave everything he had despite being hurt in the playoffs two seasons ago. I appreciate his effort as a Shark and harbor no ill will whatsoever.

bigjohn

Mclellan is killing Demers , we should trade him if doesn’t play……

tonydi

It looked to me like Jason’s overall demeanor and body language at practice today was one of frustration mixed with disappointment. It was definitely sad to watch. It’s gotta be tough to be doing well and then have some problems and be riding the pine….and having to help pick up pucks after practice. Hopefully if/when he gets another chance he’ll step up.

Garlicbulb

I don’t understand TM’s fixation on playing White with Vandermeer sitting.

White has played 11 games with 0 points and -5. He has 3 penalties and we know that the other team scored on two of the power plays.

Vandermeer is 4 games with 2 points and +2.

NB Finfan

Well we just passed 11:11 on 11/11/11. This year has had several unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11, 11/11/11, and that’s not all. Take the last two digits of the year you were born and the age you will be this year and the last two digits of the result will add up to 11 for everyone.

Who was the last Shark to wear number 11? The Sharks currently do not have a player that wears the number 11. But Thomas Greiss wears number 1. Perhaps that is why he looks so sharp this year.

What will Pat Marleau do next year when we will have 12:12 on 12/12/12?

BTW… Last October had 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays, and 5 Mondays. This happens only once every 823 years. Last month must have been a good month for Colin White.

OK, go back to talking about hockey.

ZEKE

shark fin — Heatley actually led the Sharks in minor penalties — it wasn’t an occasional thing. I think he had 28 minors last year. I’d have thought Havlat was a big upgrade in that regard, but he had almost as many last year as Heatley. Still, maybe with the Sharks and different lines/system, Havlat will be better in that regard.

ZEKE

NB, someone’s been playing with you — Anytime October begins on a Saturday, you’ll get 5 Sat/Sun/Mon during that month. And October begins on a Saturday, I’m guessing, about once every 7 years. Just as often as it begins on a Monday or Tuesday or …

NB Finfan

Thats what I get for believing everything I find on the internet.

capnblinky

any time ANY month that has 31 days begins on a saturday, you’ll get the 5 sat/sun/mon thing. the internet is funny.

feel for demers, but love the idea of pressure from below on our d-men. keep em honest. haven’t had that luxury in a while.

Go Patrick Marleau

We need to trade demers. We are killing him and his development. They cant send him down since he has played too many games and soon we won’t be able to send down Braun. I don’t think Braun is getting sent down again. He is playing fantastic and doesn’t look like a rookie at all. We could get a good player for demers and we could probably throw Nitty. When players don’t play they get rusty. Demers needs to play somewhere so that he can develop and wont be rusty. It would be nice if he could go to Worcester because then he can play and get confidence. DW has to do what is best for Jason and his career. What’s best for him isn’t the bench.

bigjohn

I really love Demers his grit and smarts, but he is at a crossroads with McC,
it happens , but he needs to play now, only thing that scares me is ends up real good somewhere else, then I will be complaining again lol

Mack The Knife

No need to panic, Demers is not going to “go bad” he isn’t a piece of fruit. I don’t think the Sharks are going to get rid of a puck moving defenseman until they are forced to (if ever). Defenseman are hurt all the time, having Demers waiting for another chance is a VERY good thing (IMO better than trading him). He will get his chance and he will become a very good NHL defenseman in time. Remember that he is young and D-men take a long time to develop at this level (Vlassic is/was not a normal defenseman’s development path)

JB

Yeah, people here need to slow down on Demers’ situation. He doesn’t need to pack his suitcases just yet. The competition among d-men is a good thing and is one of the aspects of a team that the Sharks have had little of in recent seasons, maybe something they need to take their next step. Demers hasn’t hit the bargain bin for trade bait; he’s been challenged, and the coaching staff will see how he responds. They’re not gonna chuck him overboard just because a rookie has a few good games. He’ll get a chance to respond and grow.

Go Patrick Marleau

D-men need to play to develop.

WI JP

Demers had his chance and didn’t perform up to expectations.

DW has to do what is best for the Sharks, not Demers.

Wonder if Demers has ever played forward. Perhaps, a tough transition at the NHL level.

Braun is impressive. Size, skill, composure, etc.

Evidently, the coach of the team is satisfied with White’s play or another player would get an opportunity. Guess that is a no brainer, with other defensemen riding the pines.

Have a nice day. JP

g-bum-man

Having an abundance of good defensive talent is a luxury. During the long season, several defensive players are going to need rest, or recuperation/recovery from injuries. DW would be a fool to trade Demers–and Wilson is no fool. The Sharks have built a good defensive corps–I have to laugh at those who want to break it up 14 games into the season.

Me–I want to see more of Vandemeer.

I am postive Demers will get some playing time and a chance to improve his play–or get back to where he was. We know what his (Demers) “A” game looks like–and it is good.

Planet

Wasn’t Buster the last one to wear number 11???

While the stats don’t lie, I like White. Maybe it is just because I am mentally comparing him to Wallin, whom White replaced. white can at least pass the puck up to the forwards without putting it in their skates.

I realize now that I haven’t sen enough of Vandemeer to have any opinion, so I will just go with what everyone else things for now.

I like Demers, but I am liking Braun even more. I think this kid is really going to be a player. As WI JP said, “Size, skill, composure, etc.”

Planet

Regarding Having Havlat:

One thing he does is really gives us a “quarterback” for the second power play unit. That allows us to put Jumbo, Patty, Pavs, Boyle and Burns all on the first unit. That’s a lot of talent.

Havlat really uses his stick handling to full advantage on the PP – something you couldn’t get from Heater. Clowe, Cooch, Havlat, Pickles and Braun is NOT a bad second PP unit, either.

Hopefully, anyone at the Tank who was booing Heater was an Oilers fan, or a Sens fan, or a Thrashers / Jets fan.

JRK

Introspective comments in the interview of how the Sharks operate with competition and talent being the deciding factor.

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Jimmy e offense needs to have a good flow and take advantage of defensive alignment. I think he’s certainly over four years improved in all those areas incrementally, but he did them at a pretty high level